Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, April 2, 1995 TAG: 9504030009
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CHRIS KING SPECIAL TO THE ROANOKE TIMES & WORLD-NEWS
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
The Radford resident finished second in the free pistol and air pistol events at the Pan American Games in Argentina March 14-18, but, more importantly, his performance secured the United States target-shooting team a spot in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta.
To avoid more Jamaican bobsled-type fiascos, countries now must demonstrate international-level performance to secure a spot in the games.
The Pan Am games were not the United States' last chance to qualify. Five World Cup matches will be held later this year, but Pan Am was what Amonette called the "last best chance" at qualifying.
Even though he assured the United States a spot in the 1996 games, Amonette is not guaranteed a spot on the team. The process of selecting the elite few will begin later this year and will conclude next spring.
Amonette is familiar with the rigors of international competition and the Olympic selection process. In the last nine years, he has visited 16 countries and participated in the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain.
"It is hard to believe. It is like a dream," Amonette said of his experiences in Barcelona. "Opening ceremony was the most memorable part. Standing down on the field with all the fireworks, I realized, 'Gee, whiz. I'm really here.'''
While participating in the pageantry of the opening ceremonies, Amonette rubbed elbows with the likes of Magic Johnson, Carl Lewis and Charles Barkley.
"I got a few autographs," Amonette said. "I was standing by Charles Barkley, but he seems to have such an irate personality on television, so I was a little hesitant about approaching him. When I finally got up the nerve, the lights went out, and he was gone when they came back on. When you think about all the famous people there, and I am just a little ol' target shooter, it keeps things in perspective."
While in Buenos Aires for the Pan Am games, Amonette also collected a bronze medal for his third-place finish in the standard pistol event and a gold for the team's performance in the event. Standard pistol is not a sanctioned Olympic event.
The public is not familiar with target-shooting events, Amonette said.
The most difficult part is the pressure to make every shot count. In the free pistol event, in which the marksman is 50 meters from the target, each contestant gets two hours for 60 shots. In the air pistol competition, each has 1 hour and 45 minutes to fire 60 shots at a target 10 meters away.
"A lot of people think two hours for 60 shots is easy," said Amonette. "But it takes a lot of time. It's like playing golf; you don't just grab your club and hit the ball down the fairway. You have to take your time and consider everything."
Amonette devotes a lot of time to his shooting. In addition to being in the Army Reserve, which he represents in many shooting contests, Amonette has up to five two-hour practice sessions a week at the peak of the season. As he prepared for the 1992 Olympics, Amonette was forced to take 45 days off from work at Accutek, a Blacksburg metal stamping company where he is a machinist. He also had to travel a lot on weekends.
"It puts a lot of the load here for everybody to take care of," said Amonette, a Radford University graduate.
The person who shoulders much of the burden when Ben is gone is his wife, Peggy Amonette.
"I would rather see him here," said Peggy Amonette, who works as a receptionist for a Radford dentist. "But he is doing something he really loves and is good at. It's important that he takes advantage of the opportunity when he can."
Amonette's prowess with the gun also has meant travel for his wife, who accompanied him to the Barcelona games.
by CNB